Leaders across Minnesota want to end homelessness by 2020, and they’ve come up with a seven-point plan to achieve that goal.

Homelessness in Minnesota has decreased 8 percent since 2014, when the state initially launched the plan Heading Home, according to the Minnesota Housing Agency. The most recent plan, Heading Home Together, aims to further that effort.

“We know how to end homelessness,” said Cathy ten Broeke, state director to prevent and end homelessness, in a prepared statement. “Despite this progress, many Minnesotans remain precariously housed in every corner of our state. This plan … gives us the opportunity to accelerate our progress.”

Forty-six organizations agreed to align their work over the next three years with the seven principles guiding the process.

Here are the steps of their plan:

Find the homeless and people at risk of homelessness. Prioritize the vulnerable: veterans, chronically homeless, unaccompanied youth and young adults, and families with children.

Make sure they have access to shelter and other necessary services.

Help them find more permanent housing and services.

Keep housing affordable and available. Gov. Mark Dayton has proposed investing $115 million to improve access to and longevity of safe, affordable housing.

Focus on what the individuals need, recognize the effect trauma has had on many of them, and connect them to housing as quickly as possible.

Help the homeless and those at risk of homelessness find a steady source of income.

Develop a plan that will help sustain low levels of homelessness, once they’re accomplished.

“Homelessness is an unacceptable problem that we know can be solved. In order to do this, we all have an important role to play,” said Susan Bass Roberts, vice president and executive director of the Pohlad Family Foundation.

In April, a leadership council will begin monitoring progress, analyzing gaps and helping the collaborative take action. Bass Roberts and Minnesota Housing Commissioner Mary Tingerthal will co-chair the council.

“This plan aspires to be something greater: to reflect a growing community understanding and emerging consensus about what is needed to prevent and end homelessness in Minnesota, and the collective, multi-sector strategies necessary to achieve that end,” an excerpt from the new plan said.

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